We are building our  dream on a 160-acre farm and vineyard in Celista,  a small community on the north shore of Shuswap Lake in the Interior of British Columbia. We bought the property in 1995.  At that time we lived in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and for the next several years  travelled back and forth to build  our home and develop the property. We became  permanent residents  in February 2005.  The first vines were planted in 2002 and now we are  proud owners and operators of  a multi-award winning winery. 


Our communication, political and entrepreneurial success and farming background makes Celista Estate Winery a perfect business venture and lifestyle for us.  We grow grapes, sell wine, operate a very small art gallery, maintain a farm with icelandic horses, rent cozy cabins and offer a warm and  wonderful experience to guests.

We would love to hear from you and welcome you to Celista Estate Winery.
Visit the Contact Us page to get in touch with us.

 
I  began life  in Holland in 1942.  In 1952 my parents emigrated to Canada and we settled in  Renfrew, Ontario.  It was in Ontario where I started a communications career as a reporter for several Ontario community newspapers. I began focusing on politics in the 1960's when I worked for the Federal Department of Northern Affairs in Ottawa. In 1967  I joined the Government of the Northwest Territories as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and in 1970, I became the first Director of the Territorial Department of Information, responsible for all government public affairs and communications.

My life took a turn towards publishing  in1975 as the Owner/Publisher for three award-winning and successful weekly newspapers in Alberta. In 1983  I launched Northwest Explorer Magazine, the in-flight magazine for NWT Air and  in 1988  I became the Owner/Publisher for Above and Beyond,  a general interest magazine for the Canadian Arctic and  in-flight magazine for First Air.

 I was elected as MLA of the Northwest Territories for Yellowknife Center in 1995, and upon my re-election in 1999, was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.  I served as MLA from 1995 until my retirement from politics in 2004.

 I grew up on a dairy farm in Chilliwack BC where most of  my family were also farmers.  I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BA and BSW and worked as a social worker in BC, Ontario, Montreal and the Northwest Territories, specializing in adoption and staff training.

While in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories I started Arctic Art Gallery which became the largest art gallery in the Northwest Territories. I also had the priviledge of serving on the Board of Governors of the National  Gallery of Canada for three years in the 1990's.  I sold Arctic Art Gallery in the late 1990's to Arctic Co-op and is today  still running strong as part of Northern Images.

My passion for business and the farming lifestyle brought Jake  and I to Celista to our dream property to start a farm and vineyard, and now Celista Estate Winery..

Erin works the tasting room and handles customer services throughout the summer months. She has extensive restaurant and  hospitaliy experience.  In the winter months she studies communications at Simon Fraser University. In addition her passion for viticulture and oennology is leading her to also pursue study  the wine industry.